Apple recalls Beats Pill speakers due to fire risk

Apple is recalling the Beats Pill XL speakers due to fire hazard concerns related to possible overheating of the gadget’s batteries.

The firm has urged owners of the speakers to stop using the device and return it to the nearest Apple store in exchange for a payment of $325 (£215) or an equivalent in Apple Store credit.

The firm stated the probability of a fire being caused by the gadget was extremely low.

"Apple has determined that, in rare cases, the battery in the Beats Pill XL may overheat and pose a fire safety risk,” the firm said in a statement. "Because customer safety is the company's top priority, Apple is asking customers to stop using their Beats Pill XL speakers."

This recall does not affect any other Beats or Apple products.

The Beats Pill is part of the Beats Electronics product range, originally developed by American record-producer Dr Dre, who sold the company to Apple last year for $3bn (£1.9bn). The Pill was first released in November 2013.

The recall is the first major one for Apple since 2011 when it was forced to recall and replace the first generation of iPod nano. The 2011 recall was also due to a fire risk related to the device’s batteries and affected products manufactured between 2005 and 2006.

Last year, the iPhone 5 received two replacement notices after Apple discovered faults in some sleep/wake buttons, as well as with the battery life in a small number of models.